kwren

We are considering going on our own to Trunk Beach from our cruise...

Should we try to get there in the early AM? Does it get crowded?

How about getting back - are there taxis readily available at that beach? Don't want to be stranded! How long do we need to allow to get back?

It does seem that Trunk Beach is the most recommended for the best snorkling from the posts I've read. Have I missed a better choice? Is it best to stick to one beach given our time constraints?

Thanks for any info for our first snorkling trip to St John's!

christiegr

Trunk Bay is good for snorkeling and the overlook for Trunk Bay is picture perfect!Yes..it does get crowded..so go in the early am.

When you get off the ferry..get a taxi and tell them that you would like them to pick you up also..give them the time and make sure that you are waiting for them.

Trunk Bay is only about 10 to 15 minutes from the ferry dock.I would allow 20 to 25 minutes to be safe.(I have never taking a cruise before,so I am guessing)

Another good beach on the way to Trunk Bay is Hawksnest beach which has a reef close to shore with good snorkeling..it is one of the first stops on the way to Trunk Bay.

How long do you have on St John before you need to leave for STT?

Christie

brenandg

1. Yes you should get there as early as possible.

2. There are taxi's readily available at Trunk Bay, so you won't get stranded. That said, you will have to wait for the taxi to fill up. They are really just pick up trucks with bench seats in the back and since the fare is per person, they wait until they get a load. I don't think we ever waited more than 15 minutes, but keep this in mind when calculating your time to make it to the ferry. I would head for the taxi at least 45 minutes before your ferry is to leave. That still only allows for 15 minutes to wait for the taxi, 10-15 minutes to Cruz Bay, and time to purchase your tickets. Maybe I'm overly cautious, but better safe than sorry. As for the time it takes for the ferry and taxi ride, allow another hour. Already shaves a bit of time off your day.

As for pre arranging a taxi in Red Hook on the way back, I'm sure you can, but it's really not necessary. There are loads of taxi's waiting when the ferrys arrive and they are amazingly organized to get you where you are going.

kwren

Hi Cristie and brenandg- We dock at 7am and leave at 5:30.
Are the ferries running regularly at 8 or 9?

I like the idea of going first thing to avoid the crowds and to get back to the ship with time to spare. Don't want to be one of the passengers providing the entertainment by running in at the last minute!!!

What about snorkel equipment? Can we rent it there?
Are food and drink sold at the beach?

This definitely sounds doable - we're going to give it a try!

Thanks for the info.

blamona

They sell food and drinks there.

Keep in mind, the people that bought excursions through the ship are let out first.

Here's a ferry schedule:

http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/in...o%20Cruz%20Bay

(cut and paste)

St. John is so worth it! 8-)

cawhite

kwren - Here's a great St. John Beach guide:

http://stjohnbeachguide.com/Beaches/beach_home.html

If you click on Trunk Bay, you'll see information at the bottom re: facilities (showers, gift shop, snack bar, etc., along with the times they are open).

If you get there early enough (approximately 8:30ish I've heard), you can go in before they start collecting the $4 per person entrance fee.

Also, Trunk has showers, so you can take a quick shower before heading back.

Carole

cawhite

Oh, and yes... you can rent snorkel gear there.

kwren

This is great information everyone! St. John's will be our last stop of the cruise and it's sounding like the best!

Why is it recommended to leave on the Redhook Ferry when the ships dock in Charlotte Amelie and the is a ferry from there as well? Is it the difference in travel time or due to a different reason?

Can you walk to the CA ferry terminal from the ship's dock or does it still entail a taxi ride?

The web sites provided above are wonderful. Thanks so much for including them. I can't wait to show the family.

doug_stallings

People are mentioning Red Hook because that's the most direct (and frequent) ferry route. The trip is 15 or 20 minutes as opposed to perhaps 45 minutes from Charlotte Amalie.

brenandg

The time evens out no matter which ferry you take. See vinow.com for the ferry schedules. The Charlotte Amalie ferry has not been running as usual lately and was cancelled altogether for a short while. It also will not leave as early in the morning as you want to. Red Hook is definitely reliable.

ScottB

Another option would be to charter a boat out of St Thomas to take you to different snorkel spots on ST John.

Trunk is indeed a beautiful beach, and has all the comforts. But, the snorkeling is average at best there. There are so many other beaches that blow Trunk away for snorkeling. The marked trail is all bleeched out coral. We barely saw any fish there at all.

By doing a charter boat, you could almost eliminate taxis & ferrys all together. If you don't mind spending the extra $$...it might be a less stressful day. My guess is that you can find one that picks you up near the ships....

Tuxedocat

If you're coming from a cruise ship in STT, it'll take you about 25 minutes to get from Havensight where the ships dock, to Red Hook where the passenger ferry is. The ferry runs about every hour and takes about 20-25 minutes to get over to STJ. From the ferry, taxis can take you to Trunk which will take about 10-15 minutes. They always take a little stop so that everyone can take pictures of Trunk from the overlook. In total, I'd guess it would take you about an hour and 15 minutes each way, that is if you don't miss a ferry etc. Most of the cruise ships will organize trips to STJ and Trunk. This may be the best way to make sure you don't miss your boat.